Courses of Study:
Major (B.A.)
Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy
Department website: http://www.brandeis.edu/departments/psych/
Objectives
Undergraduate Major
The faculty in the psychology department believe that a strong scientific and research foundation in psychology best prepares students to be informed consumers of psychology and to continue with graduate training in psychology, whether one's career choice is clinical, applied, or research oriented. The psychology department at Brandeis therefore emphasizes a rigorous, scientific approach to the understanding of human behavior. The program examines the most up-to-date and comprehensive psychological research and theory and provides opportunities for direct involvement in psychological research and application. Faculty conduct research in diverse areas that include cognitive science, normal and abnormal development, social interaction, spatial orientation, linguistics, perception, memory, emotion, life span development, and effects of brain damage.
Graduate Programs in Psychology
The Department of Psychology offers both a Ph.D. and a Master's program. There are two general areas of training within the Ph.D. program: cognitive neuroscience and social/developmental psychology. The goal of the Ph.D. program is to develop excellent researchers and teachers who will become leaders in psychological science. From the start of graduate study, research activity is emphasized. The program helps students develop an area of research specialization and gives them opportunities to work in their chosen area of training: social/developmental psychology or cognitive neuroscience. In both areas, dissertation supervisors are leaders in the field and pursue research in the following: motor control, visual perception, taste physiology and psychophysics, memory, learning, aggression, emotion, personality and cognition in adulthood and old age, social relations and health, stereotypes, and nonverbal communication.
How to Become an Undergraduate Major
Majors study varied aspects of basic and applied areas of the field. The focus of the department is on basic scientific research, in which there is a high level of undergraduate involvement. Up to a dozen students write honors theses each year, while twice that number conduct independent study, research, or reading projects funded by undergraduate research program grants. The clinical psychology practicum at Brandeis enables students to spend one day per week working in a mental health facility.
Majors develop a solid background in scientific method and a strong foundation in the fundamentals of psychology, making them highly competitive candidates for postgraduate study. Recent psychology majors have gone on to graduate work in clinical and scientific research areas of the field. These features of the undergraduate program make Brandeis psychology graduates especially attractive to employers in the mental health and business professions. PSYC 1a should be taken no later than the sophomore year.
How to Be Admitted to the Graduate Program
The general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, as specified in an earlier section of this Bulletin, apply to candidates for admission to this area of study.
An undergraduate major in psychology is not required. Students with inadequate preparation may make up their deficiencies during their first year but without residence credit. Students are admitted on a competitive basis, which includes evaluation of previous academic records, recommendations, and results of the Graduate Record Examination (Aptitudes and Psychology Achievement Tests).
Faculty
Joseph Cunningham, Chair
Emotional and cognitive development. Clinical psychology.
Theodore Cross
Psychological statistics.
Paul DiZio
Human spatial orientation and motor control.
Maurice Hershenson
Visual space perception. Visual information processing.
Derek Isaacowitz
Emotion and Aging.
Ray Jackendoff
Linguistics. Semantic theory. Music. Consciousness.
Michael Kahana
Human memory and learning.
Don Katz
Neural dynamics of gustatory perception and learning.
Raymond Knight
Clinical psychology. Experimental psychopathology.
Margie Lachman, Graduate Advising Head
Life span development. Adult personality.
Joan Maling
Linguistics. Syntactic theory. Historical syntax. Metrics.
Andrew Molinsky
Organizational Behavior
Ricardo Morant
Experimental psychology. Perceptual mechanism. Sensation and perception.
Robert Sekuler
Visual perception. Cognitive processes.
Aurora Sherman
Social relations and health. Aging.
Patricia Tun
Aging and speech comprehension and memory.
Malcolm Watson, Undergraduate Advising Head
Developmental psychology.
Arthur Wingfield
Human memory.
Jerome Wodinsky
Comparative psychology. Learning theory. Sensory physiology.
Leslie Zebrowitz
Social psychology. Person perception.
Requirements for the Undergraduate Major
A. Of the 10 courses required for the major, a minimum of seven must be psychology courses.
B. PSYC 1a (Introduction to Psychology).
C. Two quantitative courses from the following: MATH 10a, MATH 10b, PSYC 51a. This requirement should ordinarily be fulfilled by the end of the sophomore year.
D. Two laboratory science courses (e.g., BIOL 22a [formerly BIBC 22a] or BIOL 21b; CHEM 10a, 11a, or 15a; CHEM 10b, 11b, or 15b; COSI 21a or b; PHYS 10a or 11a, PHSC 9b (Combined lecture and lab), PHYS 10b or 11b; PHYS 22a [combined lecture and lab]; PSYC 152a). At least one of these courses must be taken with the accompanying lab (e.g., BIOL 18a or b; CHEM 18a or b; CHEM 19a or b; COSI 22a or b; PHSC 9b [combined lecture and lab]; PHYS 18a or b; PHYS 19a or b). This requirement should ordinarily be fulfilled by the middle of the junior year.
E. One course from Group I: NPSY 11b [Formerly PSYC 11b] (Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience), NPSY 12a (Sensory Processes), PSYC 13b (Perception), PSYC 14a (Comparative Psychology), PSYC 15a (Biological Bases of Motivation).
F. One course from Group II: LING 100a (Introduction to Linguistics), NPSY 22b (Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience), PSYC 13b (Perception), PSYC 21a (Learning and Behavior).
Note: PSYC 13b may be counted toward fulfillment of either the Group I or the Group II requirement, but not both.
G. One course from Group III: PSYC 31a (Personality), PSYC 32a (Abnormal Psychology), PSYC 33a (Developmental Psychology), PSYC 34b (Social Psychology), PSYC 36b (Adolescence and the Transition to Maturity).
H. Two specialized psychology courses or seminars (any 100-level LING, PSYC, or NPSY seminar other than LING 100a or PSYC 152a). PSYC 161a and 161b (Clinical Psychology Practicum I and II) count only as one course.
I. The department recommends that students planning to apply to graduate school take PSYC 51a, PSYC 152a, and PSYC 195a. PSYC 51a and PSYC 152a are also typically required for Senior Honors Research in the Group III content area and are prerequisites for a number of 100-level seminars. These two courses and/or two semesters of calculus may be required for Senior Honors Research in the Group I and Group II content areas.
J. All courses that count toward the major must have a grade of C- or better.
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts
The Department of Psychology offers a terminal Master of Arts program in General Psychology. The M.A. program provides students with an understanding of the scientific foundations of psychology (social, developmental, and cognitive), as well as direct experience in research methods (data collection, data analysis, inferential statistics, and experimental design). Students may enroll in the Master's program on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students are expected to complete the degree in one year. Students desiring to continue their students toward the Ph.D. must apply for admission to that program.
Course Requirements
The requirement for the degree will be eight courses as follows: two semesters of Advanced Psychological Statistics, one semester of Research Methodology, and four courses from Social and Developmental and from Cognitive Neuroscience as specified. Master's Project Readings to culminate in a Master's Thesis, which is either an empirical research project or a comprehensive literature review.
Applicants should specifically mention their interest in this program when they apply. Students in the Ph.D. program may petition for a Master of Arts degree upon completion of the following requirements: (1) one year minimum residency, (2) acceptable master's thesis (an acceptable first-year research report will count as a Master's Thesis), and (3) completed breadth requirements.
Requirements for the Joint Degree of Master of Arts in Psychology and Women's Studies
Interested students must first be admitted to the Ph.D. program.
A. PSYC 152a (Experimental Psychology).
B. PSYC 210a and b (Advanced Psychological Statistics I and II).
C. PSYC 300a and 302a (Proseminar in Social and Developmental Psychology I and II).
D. A course in PSYC 220-240 series with successful completion of first-year research project in psychology. This project must be on an issue relevant to women's studies.
E. One additional course in psychology from 100-level courses.
F. WMNS 205a or another designated foundational course in women's studies.
G. Two courses listed as electives with the women's studies program.
H. Eight-part colloquium series.
Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Program of Study
Although there is a three-year minimum residency requirement, four years of full-time graduate study are usually required for the Ph.D. The student is expected to carry four courses per term during residency.
Research
Each student will devote one-quarter of his/her time to research the first term of the entering year. For all subsequent terms, students shall devote a minimum of one-half time to research.
Research Reports
Students will submit reports on their research for the preceding year, in journal form, by the beginning of the third term for social/developmental students and by the end of the third term for perception/cognition students. The second project will be submitted by the beginning of the fifth term for social/developmental students and by the end of the fifth term for perception/cognition students. Satisfactory completion of the research projects is required for continuation in the program. Students who have satisfactorily completed the research requirements will be permitted to continue their work toward the doctorate with no formal requirement of a master's degree.
Course Requirements
Entering students will take PSYC 210a and two advanced courses in the first term of residence, and one advanced course and PSYC 210b in the second term. After that they will take two advanced courses each term in the second year and one each term thereafter until completion of the specialty examination. The advanced courses should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. Each term a student must take at least one graduate-level course or seminar (100-level or above) that is not an independent readings or research course. Only selected 100-level courses, determined by the psychology program, will count as advanced, graduate-level courses. Graduate level course selection will not be restricted to the psychology program but will be arranged by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor.
Specialty Examination
During the student's third year, he or she will be examined in the historical, theoretical, and empirical literature related to the student's area of specialization, broadly conceived. The chair of the program, in consultation with the student and advisor, will appoint a three-member committee to administer the qualifying examination. The examination may be in either oral or written form. A student may petition the program to take the examination a second time if necessary.
Breadth Requirement
All graduate students must demonstrate breadth in the field of psychology. This breadth requirement is fulfilled by demonstrating competence in at least six of the nine areas listed below. The requirements may be satisfied in any of three ways:
A. By having completed an undergraduate or graduate course in that area.
B. By completing an undergraduate or graduate course offered in that area at Brandeis.
C. By successfully passing the equivalent of any undergraduate final examination for that course.
Of the six courses, a minimum of two should be taken from areas in Group A and a minimum of two from Group B.
Group A
1. Physiological/Sensory Processes
2. Perception
3. Learning/Comparative
4. Cognition/Memory
5. Cognitive Science/Linguistics
Group B
1. Developmental
2. Social
3. Personality
4. Abnormal
Teaching Requirement
As a part of the graduate training program, the student is required to serve as a teaching fellow each semester until passing the specialty examination, with the exception of the first semester. All teaching fellows work closely with course instructors and receive guidance in all aspects of course preparation, teaching, and grading. Through exposure to different professors' styles, varied course formats, and presentations on teaching skills throughout their graduate training, teaching fellows come away with a wide range of experiences, providing them with invaluable preparation for academic positions.
Language Requirement
There is no foreign language requirement.
Dissertation and Defense
Following the completion of all examinations, the student will prepare a prospectus of the proposed dissertation study in consultation with a faculty dissertation sponsor. The prospectus may be based on the student's preliminary research. Upon approval by the faculty of the program, a dissertation committee of three or more members will be appointed by the program chair, including the dissertation sponsor as chair of the committee. The dissertation sponsor will be responsible for advising the student throughout the performance of his or her work, in consultation with the remaining members of the committee at appropriate times in the course of the work. From time to time, the committee will report the student's progress to the program faculty.
The dissertation should provide evidence of originality, scholarship, and research ability. It should be a contribution to knowledge, ordinarily an experimental investigation, but not necessarily so. Upon submission to the chair of the program of a copy of the dissertation, signed by all members of the dissertation committee and one member from outside of the University, and a successful defense of the dissertation before all members of the program, the award of the Ph.D. will be recommended to the Faculty Council of the Graduate School.
Courses of Instruction
(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students
PSYC 1a Introduction to Psychology
[ ss ]
Enrollment limited to 125.
A survey of contemporary scientific psychology. Topics include brain and behavior, perception, learning, cognitive processes, motivation, intelligence, child and adult development, personality, social behavior, and the relationship between normal and abnormal behavior. Usually offered every semester.
Messrs. Morant and Sekuler
NPSY 11b Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
(formerly PSYC 11b)
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a or MATH 10a, or permission of the instructor. This course may not be repeated for credit by students who have taken PSYC 11b in previous years.
Data and theories regarding current conceptions of brain-behavior relationships. Begins with an introduction to neural systems as classically defined (sensory, association, motor, autonomic), and moves on to examination of the biological underpinnings of various behaviors, from those relating to basic drives (reproduction, feeding) to those with a cognitive flavor. Throughout, the accent is on interactions between organisms and environment (learning). Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Katz
NPSY 12a Sensory Processes
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a, or MATH 10a, or permission of the instructor.
Examines the human senses, emphasizing sight and hearing, studied from standpoints of anatomy, physiology, and psychophysics. Insights from the study of special observers including developmentally immature humans, members of nonhuman species, and people with abnormal sensory systems. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Sekuler
PSYC 13b Perception
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a. Enrollment limited to 45.
A survey of the field including topics such as visual directions, stereoscopic vision, monocular size-distance and shape-slant perception, perception of motion and movement, form perception, and psychophysics. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Hershenson and Mr. Morant
PSYC 14a Comparative Psychology
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a.
The analysis of the behavior of organisms from a comparative and evolutionary perspective considering genetic, humoral, sensory, and experiential factors in the control of behavior. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Wodinsky
PSYC 15a Biological Bases of Motivation
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a. Enrollment limited to 20.
Topics include hunger, thirst, migration, and sexual behavior. Evidence from biology, neurophysiology, and endocrinology is evaluated. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Wodinsky
PSYC 21a Learning and Behavior
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a.
Current theories of learning will be explored in the light of experimental evidence derived from animal roles. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Wodinsky
NPSY 22b Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a or MATH 10a, and sophomore standing in psychology or neuroscience.
Cognitive factors in perception, attention, memory, and language. Experimental investigations will be emphasized. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Messrs. Kahana and Wingfield
PSYC 31a Personality
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a. Enrollment limited to 30.
Covers major personality theories and related research. Emphasis will be on application of theory, issues in personality assessment, and personality development across the life span. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Ms. Lachman
PSYC 32a Abnormal Psychology
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a.
A general introduction to psychopathology. Various theoretical models will be discussed. The techniques and findings of research, clinical and experimental, will be emphasized. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Knight
PSYC 33a Developmental Psychology
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a.
An examination of normal development from conception through adolescence. Emphasis will be given to theoretical issues and processes of development in the cognitive and social domains with an emphasis on how biological and environmental influences interact. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Watson
PSYC 34b Social Psychology
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a.
An introduction to research and theory on social behavior. Topics include social perception, socialization, social interaction and relationships, attitude change and social influence, behavior in groups, and the role of culture. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Isaacowitz
PSYC 36b Adolescence and the Transition to Maturity
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a.
Examines the core issues (identity, intimacy, sexuality, spirituality, etc.) that define development during adolescence. Heavy emphasis is placed on the integration of research and theory in understanding adolescence. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Staff
PSYC 51a Statistics
[ qr ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a or the permission of the instructor. Students must consult with department one semester before anticipated enrollment. This course normally should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. Signature of the instructor required.
Covers the fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistics. Techniques useful in the behavioral sciences will be emphasized. Students learn the theory of statistical decisions and practical application of computer programs. Usually offered every semester.
Messrs. DiZio and Knight
PSYC 92a Internship and Analysis in Psychology
Signature of the instructor required.
Provides an opportunity for the student to supplement an off-campus internship experience with a related research project. The specific requirements of the research component are negotiated by the student and the sponsoring faculty member. Usually offered every year.
Staff
PSYC 98a Readings in Psychological Literature
Signature of the instructor required.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
PSYC 98b Readings in Psychological Literature
Signature of the instructor required
Usually offered every year.
Staff
PSYC 99d Senior Research
Signature of the instructor required.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students
PSYC 101b The Psychology of Adult Development and Aging
[ ss ]
Enrollment limited to 30.
This course describes the sensory, cognitive, personality, and social changes that occur in normal aging. The emphasis will be on pathways to successful aging in the context of a shifting balance of gains and losses in psychological and physical functioning. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Isaacowitz and Ms. Lachman
PSYC 103a Seminar in the Neuropsychology of Language
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: LING 173a or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required. This course may not be repeated for credit by students who have taken PSYC 203a in previous years.
Considers empirical and experimental analysis of the neurological organization of the language faculty. Usually offered every fourth year. Last offered in the fall of 1999.
Staff
PSYC 105a Socio-emotional Development in Children and Adolescents
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a. Enrollment limited to 20.
An advanced seminar covering normative and pathological aspects of socio-emotional development from infancy through adolescence. Three broad themes--attachment, socialization, and identity--is explored, with focus on social relationships, temperament, emotions, morality, gender/sexual identity, and psychopathology. Special one-time offering. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Ms. Andreas
NPSY 120b Man in Space
[ sn ss ]
Enrollment limited to 25.
Topics include how orbital flight is achieved, spacecraft life support systems, circulatory dynamics, sensory-motor control and vestibular function in free fall, and the physiological and psychological adaptations necessary in space flight, and how astronauts must readapt on return to Earth. Usually offered every year. Last offered in the spring of 2002.
Mr. Lackner
NPSY 125a Advanced Topics in Perception and Adaptation
[ sn ss ]
Enrollment limited to 10.
Covers current issues and theories in vision, vestibular function, proprioception, and adaptation to unusual force environments from psychological and biological perspectives. Usually offered every third year. Last offered in the fall of 2000.
Mr. Lackner
NPSY 127a Motor Control
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: NPSY 11b (formerly PSYC 11b) and NPSY 12a or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20.
Surveys control of posture, movement, gesture, and speech from various perspectives; including muscle properties, reflex organization, central neural mechanisms, spatial representations, learning, and development. Emphasizes research in physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and artificial intelligence. Usually offered every second year. Last offered in the fall of 2001.
Mr. DiZio
PSYC 130b Life Span Development: Adulthood and Old Age
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a, 31a or 33a, 51a, 152a, or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
Seminar on advanced topics in life span developmental theory and methodology. Substantive emphasis will be on cognitive, personality, social, and physical changes that occur in midlife and later life. Usually offered every second year. Last offered in the spring of 2002.
Ms. Lachman
PSYC 131b Seminar in Health Psychology
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a, 51a, and 152a. Signature of the instructor required.
An examination of the social and psychological factors important for well-being, physical health, and effective medical care. Psychological perspectives are applied to such topics as health promotion and compromise, the stress-illness relationship, social relations, chronic illness, death and dying, and health care provider and patient interactions. Usually offered every second year. Last offered in the fall of 2001.
Ms. Sherman
PSYC 132a Children's Play and the Developing Imagination
[ ss ]
Examines the origins, forms, effects, and determinants of children's play including parent/infant play, peer play, play common to different age groups, and the use of play in educational and therapeutic settings. Readings of classic and current papers on play; student observation studies, analyses of children's jokes, toys, games, playgrounds, and problem playing. Usually offered every summer. Last offered in the summer of 2000.
Staff
PSYC 133a Seminar in Nonverbal Communication
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a, 51a, and 152a or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
Seminar in advanced topics in nonverbal communication covering theoretical and methodological issues. Topics will include one or more of the following: physical appearance; emotion communication; deception; impression formation. Usually offered every second year. Last offered in the spring of 2002.
Ms. Zebrowitz
PSYC 135b Seminar in Social Cognition
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a, 34b, 51a, 152a, or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
Considers the antecedents and consequences of social perceptions, including appearance stereotypes and demographic stereotypes. Attention is given to social perception accuracy, self-fulfilling prophecy effects, and mechanisms for coping with stereotypes. Usually offered every second year. Last offered in the spring of 2001.
Ms. Zebrowitz
PSYC 136b Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 33a. Juniors and seniors have priority for enrollment. Signature of the instructor required. Although topics vary from year to year, the course may NOT be repeated for credit.
Provides students with detailed information about theories and special topics of research in developmental psychology. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Watson
NPSY 137b Cognitive Modeling
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisites: MATH 10b, and PSYC 51a or NBIO 136b. Enrollment limited to 18.
A general introduction to the construction and simulation of mathematical models of human cognitive processes. The major emphasis will be on models of human learning and memory. Students will be expected to have some background in computer programming. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Kahana
PSYC 145b Aging in a Changing World
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a, 51a, 152a, or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
Psychological issues related to the aging process are examined in a multidisciplinary perspective. Topics include intellectual functioning, memory loss, personality changes, and physiological changes in later life, as well as theory and research concerning what it means to age successfully. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Isaacowitz
PSYC 150b Organizational Behavior
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a, PSYC 51a, and PSYC 152a. Enrollment limited to 20.
Covers the fundamentals of industrial/organizational psychology, including the topics of leadership, work motivation, organizational culture, organizational structure, group dynamics, perception, decision-making, and cross-cultural interaction. Assignments include group project analysis of real organizational dilemma using concepts covered in class. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Molinsky
PSYC 152a Experimental Psychology
[ qr ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a and 51a. In order to pre-enroll in this course, students must consult with the department one semester before anticipated enrollment. This course normally should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. Signature of the instructor required. A library intensive course. Refer to the University Writing section of this Bulletin for information regarding applicability to the writing intensive requirement.
The laboratory/lecture offers supervised practice in experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and formal presentation of experimental results. Usually offered every semester in multiple sections.
Sec. 1: Ms. Lachman and Ms. Zebrowitz
Sec. 2: Mr. DiZio, Ms. Zebrowitz and Staff
NPSY 154a Human Memory
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisite: NPSY 22b. Enrollment limited to 18.
Presents a systematic analysis of current memory research and theory with an emphasis on list learning experiments and neural network models. Usually offered every third year. Last offered in the spring of 2000.
Mr. Kahana
PSYC 155a Seminar in Visual Space Perception
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 13b. Signature of the instructor required.
Seminar will discuss current issues in visual space perception. Usually offered every fourth year. Will be offered in the fall of 2003.
Mr. Hershenson
NPSY 159a Advanced Topics in Episodic Memory
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: NBIO 140b or NPSY 154a, and permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
Deals with current topics in the study of episodic memory. Discussions and readings on topics such as memory for temporal order, category learning, associative symmetry, item versus associative recognition, theories of search in free recall, and the memory systems controversy. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Kahana
PSYC 160b Seminar on Sex Differences
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 1a, 51a, 152a or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
Considers research evidence bearing on sex differences in the cognitive domain and in the social domain, evaluating this evidence in light of biological, cultural, and social-cognitive theories as well as methodological issues. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Ms. Zebrowitz
PSYC 161a Clinical Psychology Practicum I
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a and 31a or 32a. Students must enroll in this course in order to enroll in PSYC 161b and should only enroll in this course if they are also able to enroll in 161b in the spring semester. Signature of the instructor required.
In conjunction with PSYC 161b, provides intensive supervised experience in mental health intervention. Students do clinical work eight hours a week and relate their experience to empirical and literary readings in weekly group supervision. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Cunningham
PSYC 161b Clinical Psychology Practicum II
[ ss ]
Signature of the instructor required.
In conjunction with PSYC 161a, provides intensive supervised experience in mental health intervention. Students do clinical work eight hours a week and relate their experience to empirical and literary readings in weekly group supervision. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Cunningham
PSYC 164b Social Relations and Health Across the Lifespan
[ ss ]
Prerequisite: PSYC 152a. Enrollment limited to 15.
Examines ways in which our relationships with others are intricately interwined with many aspects of our health across the human lifespan. Discusses the current literature related to social relations and occurrence of, and coping with, specific diseases (e.g., AIDS, cancer, heart disease, arthritis) and the relationship of social relations to prevention of illness. Considers issues of gender, race/ethnicity and other social categories that interact with social relations and health in adulthood. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Ms. Sherman
PSYC 165a Seminar in Experimental Psychopathology
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 32a, 51a, 152a, or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
Focuses on how researchers study deviant behavior and what they have learned about the causes and life course of psychopathology. Focuses on two broad classes of psychopathology--sexual aggression and schizophrenia--and examines the interplay of biological and environmental variables that cause and sustain disordered behavior. Usually offered every second year. Last offered in the spring of 1998.
Mr. Knight
PSYC 167b Schools of Psychotherapy
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a and 32a. (Latter may be taken concurrently.)
The theories and techniques of several schools of psychotherapy and behavior modification are considered. The theories of personality, methods of intervention, goals of therapy, and relevant research will be emphasized. Usually offered every third year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Knight
PSYC 169b Disorders of Childhood
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a, 33a, or permission of the instructor. Seniors and juniors have priority for admission. Signature of the instructor required.
Issues of theory, research, and practice in the areas of child and family psychopathology and treatment are reviewed in the context of normal developmental processes. Usually offered every fall. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Cunningham
NPSY 174b Visual Cognition
[ ss sn ]
Prerequisite: NPSY 12a or permission of the instructor.
Higher-order processes in vision. Visual impact of cognitive and other top-down influences, including attention, expectation, plasticity, and learning. Focus on visual recognition, contour formation, segmentation, temporal binding, and face and object perception. Studies of visual perception in brain-damaged individuals. Usually offered every second year. Last offered in the spring of 2002.
Mr. Sekuler
NPSY 175b The Neuroscience of Vision
[ sn ss ]
Prerequisite: NPSY 12a or permission of the instructor.
Examines the neural basis of human vision from several complementary perspectives. Relates visual capacities of human observers to the structure and function of the visual system. Considers computational and functional neuroimaging approaches to vision. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Sekuler
PSYC 193b Tests and Measurements
[ ss ]
Prerequisites: PSYC 1a and 51a.
Covers test theory, types of measurement, the theory and measurement of reliability and validity, and test construction. The measurement of intelligence, achievement, and personality are considered. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Knight
PSYC 195a Seminar in Psychological Theory
[ ss ]
Signature of the instructor required.
Analysis of relationship between theory and observation for modern psychological theories emphasizing the nature of explanation in psychology. Historical approaches are discussed in modern context. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Hershenson
NPSY 196b Advanced Topics in Cognition
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Prerequisite: NPSY 159a or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
This seminar covers current issues and research in memory, speech perception, and processing resource limitations. Emphasis will be placed on the current literature in the field. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Wingfield
NPSY 197a Advanced Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
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Prerequisites: NPSY 11b (formerly PSYC 11b) or NBIO 140b, or permission of the instructor. Signature of the instructor required.
Covers current research and issues pertaining to the neurobiology of perception (focusing mainly but not exclusively on perception of chemosensory signals) as well as the neurobiology of simple learning. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the fall of 2002.
Mr. Katz
NPSY 199a Human Neuropsychology
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Prerequisite: NPSY 22b, or NBIO 140b, or permission of the instructor.
Designed as an introduction to human neuropsychology. Topics include cerebral dominance, neuroanatomical mapping, and localization of function, with special reference to language, memory, and related cognitive function. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Wingfield
(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students
NPSY 207b Seminar in Perception
Examines the various aspects of visual, vestibular, motor, and proprioceptive information by which objects and events in three-dimensional space are perceived by human observers. Current research in psychology and artificial intelligence is considered. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Lackner
PSYC 210a Advanced Psychological Statistics I
In conjunction with PSYC 210b, this course teaches students how to do independent data analysis in psychology at a Ph.D. level. Topics include methods for describing data, exploratory data analysis, elementary probability theory, null hypothesis significance testing and alternatives, the binomial distribution, contingency table analysis, one-way and factorial analysis of variance, and repeated measures analysis. Students receive extensive instruction in the use of the Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Usually offered every second year. Last offered in the fall of 2001.
Mr. Cross
PSYC 210b Advanced Psychological Statistics II
Prerequisite: PSYC 210a.
This course is a continuation of PSYC 210a. Topics include statistical power analysis, simple correlation and regression, multiple regression, nonparametric statistics, and a brief introduction to multivariate procedures. Students learn to use multiple regression as a general data analytic system. More advanced instruction in SPSS is also provided. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Mr. Cross
PSYC 220-244a and b Courses in Research
Usually offered every year.
220a and b Research in Spatial Orientation
Mr. Lackner
221a and b Research in Semantics and Conceptual Structure
Mr. Jackendoff
222a and b Research in Human Spatial Orientation
Mr. Morant
223a and b Research in Behavioral Neuroscience
Mr. Katz
224a and b Research in Speech Perception and Cognitive Processes
Mr. Wingfield
225a and b Research in Visual Space Perception
Mr. Hershenson
226a and b Research in Cognitive Processes and Psychopathology
Mr. Knight
227a and b Research in Neurolinguistics and Psycholinguistics
Staff
228a and b Research in Syntax and Comparative Germanic
Ms. Maling
229a and b Research in Person Perception
Ms. Zebrowitz
230a and b Research in Animal Behavior
Mr. Wodinsky
231a and b Research in Social Psychology
Staff
232a and b Research in Developmental Psychopathology
Mr. Cunningham
234a and b Research in Life Span Development; Adult Personality
Ms. Lachman
236a and b Research in Developmental Psychology
Mr. Watson
238a and b Research in Human Memory
Mr. Kahana
239a and b Research in Human Motor Control
Mr. DiZio
242a and b Research in Forensics
Mr. Knight
243a and b Research in Emotion and Aging
Mr. Isaacowitz
244a and b Research in Health and Aging
Ms. Sherman
PSYC 250a Advanced Research Project
Usually offered every year. Specific sections for individual faculty members as requested.
Staff
PSYC 250b Master's Project Readings
Usually offered every year.
Staff
PSYC 253a Advanced Research Methods in Social Perception
Prerequisite: PSYC 152a, PSYC 51a or PSYC 210a.
Usually offered every year.
Ms. Zebrowitz
PSYC 280a and b Advanced Readings
Offered every year. Specific sections for individual faculty members as requested.
Staff
PSYC 300a Proseminar in Social and Developmental Psychology I
Offers an in-depth review of primary sources in several major topic areas of social and developmental psychology. Usually offered every second year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Staff
PSYC 302a Proseminar in Social and Developmental Psychology II
Offers an in-depth review of primary sources in several major topic areas of social and developmental psychology. Usually offered every second year.
Staff
PSYC 315d Faculty Research Seminar
Required of all first-year graduate students. Taught by all faculty members of the program, the course exposes students to faculty members' current research. Usually offered every year.
Staff
PSYC 316a Social/Developmental Psychology Research Seminar
Required of all social/developmental graduate students who have not been admitted to candidacy. Usually offered every year. Will be offered in the spring of 2003.
Staff
PSYC 400d Dissertation Research
Specific sections for individual faculty members as requested.
Staff
CONT 300b Ethical Practice in Health-Related Sciences
Required of all first-year graduate students in health-related science programs. Not for credit.
Scientists are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of addressing ethical issues and values associated with scientific research. This course, taught by University faculty from several graduate disciplines, will cover major ethical issues germane to the broader scientific enterprise, including areas or applications from a number of fields of study. Lectures and relevant case studies will be complemented by two public lectures during the course. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Fulton
Cross-Listed Courses
ANTH 161b
Culture and Cognition
COSI 310b
Seminar in Artificial Intelligence
LING 100a
Introduction to Linguistics
LING 153a
Consciousness
LING 173a
Psycholinguistics
LING 183a
Social Cognition from a Cognitive Science Perspective
LING 197a
Language Acquisition and Development
PHIL 39b
Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 141b
Topics in Philosophy and Cognitive Science